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Hong Kong is a city with many faces and many personalities that manifest in many different ways, so it’s no wonder the city can be overwhelming for neophytes and even veteran travelers. Whether you’re in the middle of the streets of Mong Kok, boating in Causeway Bay or visiting the remote islands of Tai Ping Chau, you’ll discover something unmistakably Hong Kong.

The bright neon signs floating above crowded streets, 24-hour restaurants with large LCD TV screens and “organized chaos” during rush hour are all quintessential Hong Kong. It’s not a bad thing though. Once you overcome this initial blow of awe and excitement, you’ll feel a delight when immersing yourself in to what Hong Kong has to offer.

A Day in the Life

Whether you are on a side trip from business or have only a day to spare before your next onward flight, here is an itinerary that could save you time and trouble:

08:00 – This is equivalent to a tardy attendance to a tai chi session as regular practitioners assemble even before sunrise. Head towards the Tsim Sha Tsui’s waterfront or across the harbor at Wan Chai’s Bauhinia Square or Victoria Park, whichever is closer to you.

09:00 – If you happen to be on Hong Kong island just hop on a tram (the destination doesn’t matter), and observe the daily life of locals: office workers flowing out of MTR stations, long lines at bus stops or home helps heading to the wet market. If you are in Kowloon, take the morning trip via the Star Ferry to either Wan Chai or Central and catch a morning coffee afterwards. This is also a good time to take snapshots around the neighborhood.

10:30 – Take the peak tram and head to The Peak to enjoy an uninterrupted vista of Kowloon and beyond on a clear sunny day. If you fancy a life-size collection of prominent local and Hollywood stars, you can catch a glimpse at Madam Tussauds.

13:00 – Be prepared to queue at the most sought-after dining places, especially during weekdays. But since your 24-hour itinerary doesn’t allow you to do so, try a brief lunch break at Café de Coral, Fairwood or Maxim’s where you can order typical Hong Kong dishes at affordable prices.

14:30 – Take the MTR ride to Mong Kok’s Ladies Market or a scenic bus trip to Stanley Market, according to your preference.  Jade ornamentals, souvenir shirts or bootleg watches are a common sight in here. If you’re into people watching, a visit to wet market or a Hong Kong Jockey Club betting station is a good choice.

16:00 – If you’re into shopping, take some time to visit Citygate in Tung Chung, a popular mall filled with outlet shops that offer brand-new goods at cheaper prices than their downtown counterparts are going to give. If Tung Chung is too far, other outlet shops, albeit scattered, can be found within Kowloon.

18:00 onwards - Secure a good seat at one of IFC mall’s trendy bars or if you prefer bar hopping, stop by Lan Kwai Fong’s array of pubs and eateries and have a drink or two with a friend or even a complete stranger. If you’re planning to watch the Symphony of Lights, you may want to have dinner in Tsim Sha Tsui and be at the promenade just before 8pm.

If you happen to be in Hong Kong on a race day (Wednesday and Sunday nights) you can experience this exciting horseracing activity with friends.


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Best of the Rest

Experience the other side of Hong Kong by taking a trip to Lantau, an island much larger than Hong Kong island and whose mountains are filled with forests and lush vegetation. You can take a few hiking routes to the 100-foot giant bronze Buddha while enjoying fantastic views of surrounding hillsides.

A visit to Hong Kong isn’t complete without trying out its popular dishes. City Hall’s Maxim Palace in Central is one venue to enjoy dim sum and traditional Cantonese cuisine plus an amazing view of the Victoria Harbor.

Macau is Macau and has its own unique character. But since it’s just an hour away by fast ferry (even faster with a helicopter ride), a day trip to check out Macau’s casinos, taste its Portuguese-influenced delicacies or try the world’s highest bungee jump facility at the Macau Tower is a worthwhile experience (see our guide to Macau).

Hidden Gems

Café Corridor
Coffee shops aren’t only visited for the brewed coffee they serve; it’s also for the ambiance they provide. Café Corridor, accessible via a narrow space across the busy Times Square mall, offers such a cozy feeling. Not only that, Café Corridor’s owner – a popular figure locally – personally oversees how the coffee is made.

Free Wifi
Take a ride on most of Hong Kong’s double-decker buses and your smart phone instantly gets empowered and connected to the world for free. With a few settings in place, you can check the weather, emails and news without getting off your seat.

Accommodation

Hong Kong’s easy access and visa free entry for many passport holders make it a great place to visit. Luckily, the quality and quantity of accommodation can easily cope with this influx of visitors. Of course, you get what you pay for. Cheaper accommodation is always synonymous with smaller rooms while luxurious amenities are almost always reserved to luxury guests.

Budget – HK$200 to HK$600 per night ($25-75)
Cosmic Guest House (www.cosmicguesthouse.com) – Tsim Sha Tsui +852 2369-6669 
Sun Kong Budget Youth Motel (www.sunkong.com.hk) – Causeway Bay +852 9162-4664
Dragon Hostel (www.dragonhostel.com) – Mong Kok +852 2395-0577

Mid-Range -  HK$800 and up per night ($100+)
Hotel Benito (www.hotelbenito.com) – Tsim Sha Tsui +852 3653 0388
East Hong Kong (www.east-hongkong.com) – Quarry Bay +852 3968 3968
Hotel Jen (www.hoteljen.com) – Sheung Wan +852 2974 1234

Splurge – HK$2,500 and up per night ($350+)
Peninsula (www.peninsula.com) – Tsim Sha Tsui +852  2920 2888
Mandarin Oriental (www.mandarinoriental.com) Central +852 2820 4202

Hong Kong at Night


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Hong Kong is a city that never sleeps. As proof of this, you’ll see many 24-hour McDonalds outlets and convenience shops and restaurants are typically full at midnight. Bars and clubs around Lan Kwai Fong in Central, Lockhart Road in Wan Chai and Knutsford Terrace in Tsim Sha Tsui are popular watering holes for both locals and visitors.

Symphony of Lights
Enjoy a free nightly display of dancing lights and lasers at 8pm. This multimedia display lasts for about 15 minutes. The best positions to witness this show are at Wan Chai’s Bauhinia Square and Tsim Sha Tsui’s Avenue of the Stars, with narration in English, Mandarin and Cantonese on appointed nights.

Lan Kwai Fong
Lan Kwai Fong is a popular section within Central filled with pubs, bars and dining venues.


Lockhart Road
As an alternative to Lan Kwai Fong, Lockhart Road in Wan Chai is home to decent bars and pubs although it is widely considered red light district due, to the presence of certain nightclubs. This place is a favorite destination of US Navy sailors during their brief rest and recreation period.
 
Knutsford Terrace
For visitors staying in Kowloon area, they need not cross the harbor to enjoy a nice dinner, cold drinks and live music. Sprawled across Kimberley Road, this area is exclusive to pedestrians; instead of vehicles, the road is filled with tables.

Retail Therapy


Another facet of Hong Kong’s personality is its wide variety of shopping options. From flagship stores and tax-free shopping to factory outlets and yearlong discounts, everyone is spoiled for choice. No wonder Hong Kong is often referred to as a shopper’s paradise.

Citygate Outlets (Tung Chung MTR Station Exit C)
Citygate Outlets is Hong Kong’s first and only outlet mall that offers 30 to 70 per cent discounts for more than 70 well-known international brands all year long. If you’re into shopping, you wouldn’t want to miss dropping by here.

Ladies Market (Mong Kok MTR Station Exit D3)
Ladies Market is an ideal destination for budget-conscious shoppers with an eye for fashionable clothes, bags and accessories. It is located in Mong Kok’s Tung Choi Street, between Argyle and Dundas Street. For those who doubt the quality of electronic goods found here, nearby Mong Kok Computer is a suitable destination.

Elements (Kowloon MTR Station Exit U3 and U4)
Located above the Kowloon MTR station, Elements is an upper middle class shopping mall whose motif is patterned after the Elements of Nature (Metal, Wood, Fire, Water, Earth). Elements mall has many fashion, beauty and jewelry shops but also features sportswear and home furnishing stores.


Transport

Getting there & away – From Hong Kong International Airport, the Airport Express train is the fastest way to reach the city. For those not in a hurry or are on a bit of budget, there are airport buses that serve passengers directly to various points in the city.

Getting around – Hong Kong boasts of an excellent transport system, with 90 percent of all journeys in the city made via public transport.

MTR Trains
MTR is the epitome of Hong Kong’s well-organized and sophisticated transport system, with its on-time departures and efficiently managed stations. Most Hong Kong landmarks are connected by the MTR. Trains operate from about six in the morning until about 1am.

Buses
Buses are one of the main means of transportation. The double-deckers are generally operated by two big bus companies and have designated routes indicated by the numbers at the front. Octopus cards are the preferred mode of payment although coins and bills are accepted (with no change given).

Minibuses
Mini buses have red or green tops and also travel within a certain route.


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Taxicabs
The easiest way to reach a destination without deciphering route maps and following signs is the taxicab. Hong Kong’s cabs, easily identified with their distinctive red (Hong Kong and Kowloon), green (New Territories) and blue (Lantau island) body colors, are a cheap and effective way of getting around.

Trams
The Hong Kong Tramwaya is one of the best means to explore Hong Kong island at the cheapest cost – at HK$2 ($0.26) no matter where your destination is. From the western end at Kennedy Town to the eastern frontier at Shau Kei Wan, you can see rows of shops that sell dried seafood in Sheung Wan, busy office workers in Central, wet market in Wan Chai, shoppers in Causeway Bay and older buildings in Sai Wan Ho in 80 minutes. Of course you need a good seat to enjoy the sights; start your journey either in Shau Kei Wan to ensure best seats are available.

Originally from the Philippines, Elmer W. Cagape is a search engine marketing specialist based in Hong Kong since 2001. He has been writing about his life in Hong Kong through his Living in Hong Kong blog since 2005. He likes to write are topics that revolve around humorous and interesting angles of what living in Hong Kong is all about. Read more from Elmer at http://asiancorrespondent.com/hong-kong-blog or check out his SEO website at http://www.seo-hongkong.com/.